The
setting is utterly tranquil and majestic, and there is something
magic in the air. Numerous small animals frolic about. Squirrels,
deer, rabbits, mice. We see hints of something bright and white
flashing over the brow of a distant hill.

Nearby,
BLUNDER, a small figure wearing an oversized horned helmet that hides
his head completely, is walking along a shallow stream bed.
Occasionally, he will stop and glance about, as though sensing that
something is "amiss." As he continues, a hand suddenly
shoots out and grabs him and pulls him into the bushes.

BLUNDER

(startled)

Ahhh!

It
is BLIX, a brigand goblin hunter. With green skin, a long nose and
pointed ears, a slung with savage weaponry, he is a terrifying sight.

BLIX

Blunder.
Forgive this intrusion, but we goblins are a free-spirited lot.

Gripping
Blunder by his helmet horns, he gives him a rough shake. Blunder
wrenches free and turns, bumping into POX, a fat, furry goblin with
the face of a pig. Pox grins and Blunder turns back to Blix; it is
clear he is a new addition to their group.

BLIX

Now,
tonight is your first big hunt, so we're going to teach you what
being a goblin is all about.

BLUNDER

(eager)

I
wants to learn! I craves knowledge!

He
is interrupted by a sudden, distant BIRDCALL. All three turn towards
TIC, the fourth member of their group. He wears a helmet similar to
Blunder's, except one horn is broken off.

Tic
is holding a lit lantern and standing a few yards off, gesturing
excitedly. It was he who make the birdcall, and he repeats it while
pointing at the distant hillside with the flashes of light emanating
from behind it. Blix, intrigued, purses his lips and returns the
call.

Drawing
an arrow and nocking his bow, Blix turns and sets off through the
underbrush silently towards the hill. Pox pauses to take a drink from
the stream before turning and moving off to the right. Blunder
lingers for a moment, bending down to pick up a large mushroom,
before he hears an UNEARTHLY CRY, like the song of a whale, echoing
through the night. He looks up into the treetops, brandishing a large
axe.

Meanwhile
the other goblins are approaching the hill, which is crested with a
large tree surrounded by giant mushrooms. The closer and closer they
get to the hill, the wind begins to pick up, blowing flower petals
and leaves through the air as Blix is joined by Pox on his left and
Tic on his right. They stare uncomprehending at the flashes of light,
as the whale-song continues. Blunder is nowhere to be seen.

BLIX

(quietly)

Where's--

Suddenly,
a few feet ahead of them, Blunder pops up from some bushes like a
jack-in-the-box, startling some birds. He gawks as he is bathed in
the white light. Blix is furious.

BLIX(harsh
whisper)--Blunder!!!

Pox
tosses a rock, which CLANGS off of Blunder's helmet. He realizes his
error and scurries back into hiding, but it is too late. The startled
birds have made the surrounding animals realize the presence of the
goblins, and begin to scurry off in all directions.

BLIX

You
idiot!

With
a loud cry, Blix charges over the hilltop, followed by the other
three who wave their weapons about wildly, yelling, but by the time
they've made it over the hill and down the bottom and into a
flower-filled glade, whatever was making the flashes of light is
gone. Only Blix continues running, mounting a fallen log in time to
catch a glimpse of the light retreating through the trees in the
distance.

The
wind dies down as Blunder, meanwhile, finds what appears to be a long
strand of hair caught on a thorn bush. He grabs it. It is silver and
shiny and he and the other two goblins immediately begin to fight
over possession of it.

TIC

Give
it to me!

BLUNDER

No!
It's mine!

POX

No!
It's MINE!!!

They
roll around on the ground, punching and kicking one another like
children. Blix, turning, races over and begins bashing them with his
bow repeatedly while yelling.

BLIX

(screaming
with rage)Ahhhh! Ahhhhhh! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! STOP IT!!!

The
fighting instantly stops. As they sit there, dazed, Blix then takes
the long strand of hair for himself and examines it curiously in the
moonlight.

BLIX

Disgusting
and pure, like a prayer. There be magic in this hair. We must take
this to our master.

2.
EXT. BOG - NIGHT

Blix,
Pox, Blunder and Tic ride on their horses through the dark woods and
arrive at the edge of a vast, disgusting, vile swamp. Dead trees rise
up out of the water and drip with moss and slime. Tying their steeds
up, the four goblins head in, picking their way across the bog,
stepping from old chunks of masonry to submerged logs. A V-shaped
ripple, like a submerged crocodile. It passes underneath the goblins
as they cross a rickety log bridge. Blunder watches it go worriedly.

BLUNDER

This
place gives me the creeps!

BLIX

We
visit Dark Lord like all-time same. Why you worry? Think had thoughts
and relax.

The
others are liking this less and less. Blunder and Pox follow their
leader without complaint, but Tic is clearly beginning to grow
irritated with the entire affair. He trails along behind reluctantly.
At the center of this fog-enshrouded mire is a large island where
sits the ruins of a long-forgotten castle, built into the base of a
giant, dead tree. This is what is known as the GREAT TREE, and it is
a place of unspeakable evil. This is the goblins' destination.

3.
INT. GREAT TREE - ENTRANCE

Blix
enters through a small opening and enters the Tree's interior, which
is a vast, hollow stump. Blunder, Pox and Tic crowd in behind him as
they stand at the top of a steep embankment leading down. At the
bottom is a deep, narrow chasm with a ledge jutting out over it. On
the other side is a small tree tree affixed with a large, curved
horn.

BLIX

(impatient)

No
time to gawk, come on.

He
starts down. The others follow and they begin struggling down the
embankment, muttering and cursing among themselves as they go.

TIC

Frog
spit!

BLUNDER

Snail
sperm!

Blunder
shoves past Blix and in his eagerness winds up losing his footing and
rolls over and over down the embankment with a loud clatter. Blix
sighs. Blunder lives up to his name. Blix and the other two make it
to the bottom, Tic a slow last, as Blunder flails about like an
overturned turtle.

Blix
helps him up, then regards the pit. Several vines hang down. Blunder
reaches for one randomly, but Blix slaps his hand away. He takes a
vine himself and gives it an experimental tug, then, sure of himself,
swings over the chasm like a green Tarzan.

Spinning
he tosses the vine back over, laughing.

BLIX

Come
on, Blunder!

Blunder
catches the vine and hesitates, looking down the seemingly bottomless
pit.

BLUNDER

I
wish I'd stayed at home in bed!

BLIX

Come
on!

Blunder
grips the vine tightly and is given a shove by Pox. With a yell, the
small goblin swings across, legs kicking. He almost doesn't make it.
Blix has to reach out and grab him and pull him over. Blunder clings
to Blix but the other goblin angrily shoves him off, and Blunder
tumbles head over heels to safety as Blix throws the vine to Pox.

Pox
catches it, and swings over as Tic complains loudly.

TIC

Why
all the rush? All this fuss about a hair!

Pox
lands next to Blix, who gives him a shove to go and stand by Blunder.
Blix tosses the vine to Tic, the last one left on the other side of
the pit. But he doesn't catch it. Blix looks annoyed.

BLIX

Come
on, Tic.

TIC

No!
No! I'll fall!

He
shakes his head furiously. Blix is losing his patience.

BLIX

Come
on! It's easy!

TIC

No!
This is stupid! I'm not swinging over!

Blunder
and Pox watch this with growing worry. They begin motioning with
their arms for him to come over.

BLUNDER

Come
on, Tic! Come on!

Blix
smirks with evil insincerity.

BLIX

Trust
me.

Finally,
looking extremely fed up, Tic grabs the vine and swings over...only
to have Blix bring his foot up and kick him in the chest, knocking
him backwards! Blunder and Pox then watch in shock as Blix draws his
sword, Tic dangling helplessly over the pit.

TIC

No!
Ahhh!

Laughing
evilly, Blix cuts the vine, and down Tic goes with a cry, dropping
out of sight. Blunder and Pox come running to stand on either side of
Blix, staring down into the abyss. Blunder frantically yells down
into it.

Without
any more ado, he sheathes his sword and marches past them. Pox shrugs
and follows. Only Blunder lingers at the chasm for a moment or two
longer, staring down into it, before finally turning and scurrying
after the other two.

BLUNDER

Wait
up, you guys!

4.
INT. GREAT TREE - GREAT HALL

A
sharp contrast to the exterior, the great hall of the Tree is a vast,
ornate room, swathed in examples of royalty. The only light comes
from a roaring fireplace opposite a banquet table heaped with
exquisite foods. The fireplace's hearth is decorated with a massive
sculpture depicting what appear to be damned souls writhing in agony
and torment. Sitting in the center of the room, is a large
high-backed throne, seen only from the rear in this scene. The LORD
OF DARKNESS is sitting in it, although we can only see his arm.